Category: alcohol facts

What Is Irish Cream?

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What Is Irish Cream?

“Harold, you have been drinking Irish Cream with your morning coffee every day for months.” Dr. Wetbrain declared.

Harold defended himself with, “What?! Only 5 cups a day. Plus, it has sugar and cream. Perfect for coffee.”

The Dr. added, “Let us not forget the Irish whiskey. Funny thing about the Irish Cream Liqueur. It was Not created by the Irish!”

Believe it or not Irish Cream is not originally from Ireland.

Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur was created in 1971, in England by Tom Jago, a British marketing executive.

Irish Cream is a protected geographical product so that is why Bailey’s Irish Cream is now made in Dublin, Ireland.

What is Irish Cream?

Most Irish Cream liqueur brands consist of 16 to 20% alcohol, Bailey’s has 17%.

Most Irish Creams are made with a lot of sugar, cream and a splash or two of Irish whiskey. Some brands add a pinch of chocolate and a drop of vanilla.

Developed in 1978 Carolans Irish Cream is made in Kentucky, US, by the master distiller Coner O’Driscoll originally from Dublin, Ireland. In 2016 Carolans ranked 3rd in the cream liqueur category in the US market. Name was taken from a famous 17th century harpist Turlough O’Carolan. Harpist in those days is like an electric guitarist these days.

Carolans Irish Cream is made with honey instead of sugar. Besides the naturally harvested honey it is also made with farm fresh cream from Ireland and of course Irish Whiskey.

Even though Irish Cream is protected as a geographical product where it must be produced in Ireland, another U.S. distillery is making it.

Blarney’s Country Irish Cream is made by Minhas Distillery in Wisconsin, U.S. Blarney’s Country Irish Cream is made with fresh cream, Irish Whiskey, sweet chocolate and sweet caramel. My favorite Irish Cream. Wetbrain smirks.

Want to make your own Irish Cream?!

One day I was at a friend’s place, and she put into a glass with ice a good-looking creamy liqueur. It was a great drink. She kindly gave me her recipe.

Ingredients:

1 tsp. -Unsweetened Cocoa powder or chocolate syrup

1 tbsp. -Sugar

1 tsp. -Non artificial vanilla extract

1 tbsp. -Instant coffee or espresso powder

1 14oz. can -Sweetened condensed milk (no evaporated milk)

1 cup -Heavy cream

1 cup -The best part, Irish Whiskey. Can use white rum or bourbon and a little more then 1 cup whiskey, if needed.

Throw all the ingredients into a blender. Blend till smooth. Pour into a large bottle, juice jug, canning jars or glasses with ice cubes and drink it now. You can keep this liqueur in the fridge for later.

With this rich creamy sweet liqueur, you can use it for baking, cocktail drinks, coffee mix, ice cream or just into a glass of ice.

“So, Harold,” Dr. Wetbrain concluded. “I think you drink way too much morning coffee.”

Difference Between Beer Bottles and Cans.

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Difference Between Beer Bottles or Cans.

 

Harold was sitting at the kitchen table with 2 beers, one bottle and one can of the same brand. What are you doing Harold? Double fisting?

Harold replied, “No tasting to see if there is a difference between bottles and cans. They seem to be the same.”

Let us scientifically investigate into this. Dr. Wetbrain declared.

Bottles or cans, which beer container is better? This is quite the debate. Both have their pros and cons.

First to note is that different beers have a different metabolic profile which reacts differently in bottles or cans.

Other things to consider on which is better is the storage time in a warehouse, transportation time and at what temperature. There is a due date. Think of beer like milk. Drink Grandma’s 50-year-old lost bottle of beer would not taste good and flat. Even with transport and storage we must look at Total Packaged Oxygen. I was thinking about this because I have had a half full bottle of beer from the night before, gave the bottle a good shake with my thumb over the top. Always good to drink after.

Note: Bumps at the bottom of beer bottles are not how many times that bottle was disinfected and reused. These are mold codes to let the manufactor to produce the very same bottle.

Sunlight and oxygen can upset the brewing process. Glass bottles in sunlight can make certain beers skunk tasting. The green tinted bottles help that problem, a little. Cans will not absorb any UV rays at all.

Cans did have a bad reputation of the beer tasting tin like. But these days tin cans have a protective liner on the inside. No tin taste, oxygen and sunlight.

Useful Notes:

If you had a cold beer and somehow got it warm, then cooled it again, this would not change the quality and taste of the beer. Whether bottles or cans.

The density of glass on beer bottles vs tin cans keeps beer cold longer.

Stubby holder or cozy which is a glove around your beer makes the insulation of beer stay colder longer.

Bottles of beer are heavier to carry to a party then same number of cans.

Harold thought about this and said, well I will just guzzle both bottle and can. No difference I noticed. Don’t want them to go bad, like milk.

Impaired Driving On Toy Barbie Jeep.

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Impaired Driving On Toy Barbie Jeep.

Harold burst in through the front door in a frantic panic, and yelled out “I almost got an impaired charge!”

Dr. Wetbrain had to ask, “Were you put in jail? What happened?

Harold answered, “Nothing. Blew into the breathalyzer. The cops said I’m good and let me go. It was a very scary moment.”

Of course Wetbrain had to give Harold a lecture and a funny story.

Harold you know that driving impaired has bad results in so many ways.

Picture this, driving impaired after hours of heavy drinking is a very disastrous thing to do. So is digesting 3 hits of acid, but that’s another story. You could smash into another car. Impaired! Then there are people hurt or dying, then jail. Let us not forget the financial aspect of an impaired. The cost of a lawyer, impounded car, a blow box to start your car when you get it back, higher insurance and you can’t get to work. Hopefully you don’t get sued.

Now for the funny impaired story. 

Here is a rare ludicrous case of someone getting an impaired. You be the judge.

On September 5, 2025 in Prince George, British Columbia, Kasper Lincoln drove down a street on a pink toy Barbie Jeep which only travels at top speed of 5 km/3 mph. Battery powered. How did Lincoln even fit into this little toy?

The Canadian law states that if you are impaired and driving a vehicle that is not powered by a human you will get a impaired charge. In fact a friend of mine would drive his horse and carriage to town. A 10 mile trip one way. After a few hours of heavy drinking, he would leave the Hotel on his horse-drawn ride back to his ranch. Sam would even nap on the way home. The horse knew the way. No impaired. Riding a bicycle travels at 20 km/13 mph, way faster then the toy jeep. Still not safe while drunk.

Apparently Kasper had a craving for a Slurpee and was to lazy to walk to 7-11. So now he and his fat ass are drunk and swerving side to side down a street on a toy pink Barbie Jeep. Police see this and pull him over. To be a fly listening in that cop car. You know the cops were giggling as they walked up to this Barbie car.

“Do you know why we pulled you over Sir? You were not wearing a seat belt.” One police officer stated still giggling.

Kasper Lincoln got a 90 day driving prohibition which he is going to fight in court. Even though his license is already suspended. The Barbie jeep has been impounded.

Moral of the story… just stagger to the 7-11 or liquor store. Average walking speed is 3 mph/5 km. Same speed as a pink Barbie Jeep. Save yourself from mental and financial trauma.

 

 

What Happened To The Beer Balls?

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What Happened to The Beer Balls?

One winter day Dr. Wetbrain walked into the living room where Harold was sitting back watching TV.

“Your balls are showing.” The doctor mentioned. Harold quickly checked himself out.

Wetbrain laughed. “No, your Beer Balls that you buried a few months ago are now showing with the spring melt. Those Beer Balls were certainly a blast from the past. How many of these old balls do you have left Harold?”

This great blast from the past became mostly famous at college parties during the 1980’s and 90’s. Awe the good old days.

How did this Beer Ball start. In 1976 the first Beer Ball was produced by Matt Brewery in Utica, New York, US by the president J. Kemper Matt Sr., filled with Matt’s Premium Lager. These Beer Balls held over 5 gallons, which is equal to 55 beers.

Beer Balls became more popular by other breweries jumping on the band wagon. Beer companies like Coors, Guinness, Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser) develop their own Beer Balls in the future years.

Easy to use. Fill a cooler or box with ice, put the beer ball into the ice, insert the tap handle and pour. The tap handle was sold separately and noted as reusable, but users found out that they were good for 3 uses at the most.

Coors, Anheuser-Busch and Guinness Breweries also developed their own Beer Balls. Coors coined their beer balls as the Party Ball. Here is a 1989 TV commercial for Coors Party Ball.

The sad Beer Ball ending. The last of the cherished Beer Ball era came to an end in 2011 with last 2 companies that produced the beer ball, Coors and Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch).

Doing the research on the fall of the Beer Ball I came across too many excuses that range from environmental to financial. The last 2 excuses make sense from some of the other excuses I read about. Trends do run out. That poor Pet Rock.

Ending.  Harold finally replied to Dr. Wetbrain on how many Beer Balls he has left from the past.

Harold’s reply, “Only 8 or 9 left.”

Money hungry Dr. Wetbrain thought.” You should sell the last one at an auction.” Harold just sideway nodded… NO.

Alcohol Prohibition Penalties.

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Alcohol Prohibition Penalties.

Harold listening to a podcast on his earbuds spoke up loudly like he is deaf. “Wetbrain! People are getting whipped for having a drink of whiskey. W.T.F.”.

Through the history of alcohol there were alcohol prohibitions in certain countries. These days mostly prohibition is in Muslim territories with severe penalties.

There is a small town in Alberta, Canada. Raymond, Alberta with a population of 4000 has a type of alcohol prohibition where you can not possess or purchase alcohol or be fined.

Then there is the famous United States Alcohol Prohibition from 1920 to 1933 where there will be NO manufacture, sales and transportation of any alcohol products. First offence had a penalty fine up to $1000.oo and up to 6 months jail. 2nd offence we are looking at $5000.oo fine and up to 1 year imprisonment. $1000.oo in 1927 is now worth $23000.oo. WOW!

Most of the alcohol prohibition places still these days have the punishment for drinking alcohol in public are flogging, fines, imprisonment or death. Below are countries I will never visit!

   Countries these days with alcohol prohibition and the penalties.

Pakistan – In 1979 Muslim citizens caught drinking alcohol would get painful 80 whips or 2 years in prison. For having a shot of whiskey! What is wrong with these people!

Sudan

Saudi Arabia – God forbid if you sold alcohol to a Saudi national. You would be looking at 3 to 9 months in jail. Flogging would be involved.

Somalia

Libya – No whipping here but there is some jail or a fine.

Iran – July 8, 2020, a man was executed for drinking alcohol. W.T.F.

Kuwait – Do not get caught drinking alcohol here. A fine is $1700us to 3.4 million. Jail is 6 months to 5 years. Plus, deportation or a death sentence! When is the next plane?

Bangladesh

Afghanistan – Only 60 lashes here or imprisonment. Just a little better than Pakistan. W.T.F.

 

Dr. Wetbrain thought about these ridiculous punishments. The whole world is going nuts with the wars and international fighting that are going on now. The wrong people are getting the lashes.

Cheers!  

Social Media Made Guinness Beer Scarce.

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Social Media Made Guinness Beer Scarce!

Did social media have a play in the scarcity of Guinness Beer?

Right now, there is a shortage of that fine tasting Guinness Beer. This beer devastation is not from climate change with droughts and floods effecting the barley harvest. Or lack of fresh water. No, the desolate depletion of Guinness Beer was brought on by a marketing campaign which lasted for a few years in the UK, along with a social media hype. The main group devoted were women and Gen Zs. Guinness Beer is getting sold out. “No drops of stout left in my stein me laddies!”

 

Guinness Beer produced by Diageo for 265 years, limited the purchase on how much British pubs can get. Usually half of their regular orders. One pub owner noted that we must have Guinness for the Six Nation Rugby Championship which kicks off January 31, 2025! These nasty limits only apply to pubs in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

Also, the Irish security stock of Guinness Beer was commandeered for the UK shortage. North America will also suffer from the lack of Guinness in the pubs due to Diageo putting a large shipment on standby. Diageo spokesperson thanked customers for their patience due to the demand at unprecedented levels and working hard to increase the volume.

Arthur Guinness on December 31, 1759, signed a 9000-year lease on the St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland. The Guinness Beer was born. Is Guinness still paying 5 cents a month??

This brewery is now owned by Diageo a multinational alcohol beverage maker based in London, England. Out of their over 200 brand names include Smirnoff, Baileys, Captain Morgan and Gordon’s Gin.

Very sad for the Guinness Beer shortage especially for the Six Nation Rugby Championship. Life is life but marketing and social media does not always help.

Update: 35200 pints of Guinness Beer were just stolen due to the shortage.

WTF, Microplastics Are Now In BEER!

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WTF, Microplastics Are Now in Beer!

WTF! Microplastics are now in BEER!

What are microplastics, Dr. Wetbrain thought.

Well apparently, everything made these days are made with these tiny little plastic beads and everything of no use is thrown away as garbage which breaks down through time and turns back into these tiny plastic beads.

The microplastics are into the whole environment such as air, water, sea water and soil. We are all consuming this plastic for our survival, like eating and drinking. Also, wildlife is dealing with this human caused fate.

These nasty beads can cause in humans and animals a variety of cancers, digestive problems, defects to respiratory, reproductive and immune systems.

The microplastics were first detected in shellfish and other fish used for human consumption. Ends up that the average human ingests 11,000 plastic particles a year. WTF!

These tiny plastic beads are in everything we drink like bottled water, soda, juice drinks and BEER. Water is needed to grow and raise all we eat. Vegetables, fruits and grains all have plastic particles. So do poultry, pork and beef, which are eating the microplastic added grain. A tasty T-bone steak on the BBQ will have microplastic in it. So sad.

How do these microplastic beads get into the system?

These tiny 5mm plastic beads are sourced from discarded clothing, plastic bottles, cosmetics, paint and detergents along with tire wear and more, which all eventually gets back into our drinking water through sewers and water treatment plants. These beads still get through in the treatment plant even though ultraviolet lights, chlorine and micro filtering is used to prevent this.

WTF! Microplastics are now in BEER!

“Maybe that’s why my face looks so shiny,” Dr. Wetbrain thought after and acting like a robot.

Artificial Intelligence Changes Brewing Beer.

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Artificial Intelligence Changes Brewing Beer.

 

Artificial Intelligence is really getting into too much of our human lives. These days A.I. is involved in medicine, art, music and duplicating people’s image along with their voice and even bars. Scary!

And now A.I. is used to make great tasting beer by redesigning the recipe. Remember that a computer does not have taste buds! Also, with all the senses us humans have and the nonsenses that the internet has, would artificial intelligence make better tasting beer? Dr. Wetbrain had to investigate this crazy idea.

A.I. has a large data base on the beloved beer which links chemical data with sensory features to accurately predict a beer’s taste and smell, apparently.

Beer has basically 4 main ingredients of hops, yeast, grains and water. What I have seen is that A.I. beer brewing can predict how beer tastes from its chemical make up and then comes up with great recipe ideas, but the ingredient numbers are off. That’s where the human touch comes in to make the beer perfect. Otherwise, bad tasting, 2% beer.

KU Leuven Brewery in Belgium developed an artificial intelligent model which works with expert beer taster’s decisions, 180,000 public ratings and measurements of 226 chemical compounds. The end results still needed tweaking from their brew master.

Dalen Landis, owner of the Grain Bin Brewing Co. in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada wanted 100% A.I. made beer. Still, they needed staff to tweak the technology.

Vancouver Island Brewery in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada wanted to do the same as Grain Bin. Yep! The internal brew master had to fix the brew.

Co-owner Alan Norman of Tire Shack Brewing Co. in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada used Chat GPT to come up with a recipe. Their new A.I. beer is called Garden Party, if you want to try it.

Dr. Wetbrain investigated further by tasting some of these A.I. beers and concluded that the extra human touch made a much better tasting beer. But I could see that beer with the new artificial intelligence is an interesting novelty to try. Human made beer is the best.

180,000 public reviews can be found on RateBeer.com

Check out ‘Eight Different Robotic Bartenders’.

I Cry For Whiskey and Rye.

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I Cry, For Whiskey and Rye.

I, Dr. Wetbrain, pledge a solemn oath to whiskey and rye. Rye and water are my favorite poisons. So, I know a little bit about whiskey and rye.

The word ‘whiskey’ comes from the Gaelic uisge beatha, meaning ‘lively water’ or ‘water of life’. Interesting to note how also the American Natives use to call whiskey ‘fire water’.

Whiskey, rye or bourbon are more of a European, American and Canadian made spirit compared to the rest of the world.

I very much enjoy a glass of whiskey or two, usually with two thirds of the glass with cold water added as mix to the rye. Mostly in movies, on the other hand, people will down about two ounces at once in a shot glass. Holly, cow! Must have been watered down.

Whiskey is made by distilling fermented barley, rye or wheat grain in large stills and then aged in charred wooden ‘aging’ barrels.

Difference between Whiskey and Rye. 

Whiskey is an American and Canadian based libation made with either wheat, corn, barley or many other grains.

Rye is a type of whiskey, made the same way, but with at least 51% rye mash.

Scotch is made from fermented barley.

Irish whiskey must ferment with added yeast. I’m sure that each distillery has their own tricks of the trade with the production of these spirits by using other additions and processes and aging times. No matter what, each finished product is like a piece of art. 

Bourbon is a whiskey which is fermented with at least 51% corn mash.

Brief History, On Whiskey

Whiskey’s distilling tricks of the trade were brought on by monks between 1100 – 1300 AD to Scotland and Ireland.

At one time beer made with barley was distilled into hard liquor. Medicine they all thought. Speaking of medicine, in the dirty thirties (Prohibition time), over a million gallons of whiskey was prescribed by dignified doctors to sufferers of many unique ailments.

In 1794 during the American Revolutionary War whiskey was used as currency for room and board, bullets, boots, etc.…

      Moonshine, white lightning, hooch is usually made by refining 100% corn mash and distilling this mash in a contraption called a ‘still’. Totally illegal to manufacture this moonshine in its time, production was done in secrecy.

This high proofed alcohol was in high demand during the prohibition era (1920 – 1933). During this era, the speakeasies bought moonshine and watered it down for more profits.

“Harold sounds dignified when he drinks whiskey, when I have seen others go snake crazy drinking this spirit”, Dr. Wetbrain remarks.

Toast History – Cheers!

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Toast History – Cheers!

   “‘Nats daroia’ Harold!”, Dr. Wetbrain yelled holding up his beer into the air. Harold stood up and clinked his beer with him and had a drink. Harold yelled ‘Napidabora’, trying to imitate the doctor.

“You said it wrong”, Dr. Wetbrain stated. Time for toasting ‘Cheers!’ history and language lessons.

Two people and a clink of a drink from their glasses, also a yell of ‘Cheers’ in honor of a toast perhaps at a wedding, a good business deal, an honor of congratulation or to a special person. “Here’s looking at you kid”, Humphrey Bogart to Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca. Clink!

Merriam-Webster dictionary has a great definition for a toast – A shout of hope, applause, or encouragement.

History of Cheers

   In the 1st century BC, the Roman Senate decreed to all to have a drink to the health of Emperor Augustus at every meal. Harold apparently tries to do this all the time.

The first recorded ‘Toast’ in England in the 12th century was by Geoffrey of Monmouth. He wrote that Renwien, daughter of British King Vortigern declared ‘Waes Hael’. Which meant good health. The Saxons continued the ‘Waes Hael’ toast every holiday with a bowl of wine. Awe the good old days.

Some thought the drinking toast began in ancient Greece, honor the Gods. Or there is the Medieval Ages where clinking 2 glasses one of them would spill some of its poison into the other glass. Mysterious murder perhaps. How sneaky!

The praise word ‘cheers’ was from the 18th century French ‘chiere’, meaning face or head, used to express happiness and encouragement.

Toasting Cheers! In different languages.    

   English – Cheers – Cheers! To your health, bottoms up.

Costa Rica – Pura Vida – poora vida – Cheers.

Filipino – Tagay – Ta gay – Drink.

Finnish – Kippis – kip piss.

German – Prost – prohst – Cheers!

Greek – Yamas – Ya mas – Good health.

Italian – Salute or Cin Cin – Cheen cheen – Cheers.

Japanese – Kanpai – Kan pie – Cheers or Empty the glass.

Mandarin – Ganbei – Gan bay – Cheers, dry cup or bottoms up.

North Korea – No cheers there! They don’t even drink or smile for that matter.

Portuguese – Saude – Saw oo de – to your health.

Russian – Nahz Drovia – Natz drovia – Cheers!

Spanish – Salud – sah lud – Good health.

Swedish – Skal – skawl – Cheers!

A personal drinking toast somehow brings people closer to each other. Cheers! Clink!